Fancy yourself a budding songwriter looking to take it to the next level or maybe a seasoned pro who just wants to absorb as much info as possible? Well, how does a songwriting workshop with one of Australia’s brightest young songwriting talents sound?

Australia’s first ever Girls Rock music camp will take place in Canberra this January and organisers have nabbed none other than homegrown singing and songwriting hero Courtney Barnett to mentor the young participants.

The first ever Girls Rock camp, which empower young women through music and have been held everywhere from Japan to Iceland, took place in Portland, Oregon all the way back in 2001 and will finally travel Down Under next year.

Taking to their official Facebook page, Girls Rock Canberra revealed both Courtney Barnett and fellow musician and Milk! Records label-mate Jen Cloher will be among the camp’s list of mentors, dropping by to play songs and teach a workshop.

Speaking to 666 ABC Canberra, Australian Girls Rock director Chiara Grassia said experiencing the impact of the camps first-hand inspired her to bring the format down under, with a view to boosting the confidence of young women.

“I went and volunteered at these week-long programs in the US where young girls aged eight to 17 form a band, learn an instrument within a week, write an original song and perform it — with the help of some amazing musicians,” she said. “It was a really awesome experience.”

Grassia said the camps were made up of girls with varying musical experience who came together to make “amazing things” happen. She added that the aim of the camps is to bring young women out of their shells and improve their confidence.

“It’s just all girls and they’re led by other women,” she said. “It just creates a really safe supportive environment, free of jealousy and competition… I really love the program’s values, of supporting each other and these really lovely feminist values that are incorporated with it.”

Girls Rock Canberra is open to girls aged 10 to 17 and will take place from 11th January till 16th January 2016 at the Ainslie Art Centre in Canberra. If you’re looking to attend, head on over to the Girls Rock Australia website.

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